It's A Desperate Attempt To Terrorise

The self-declared patriotic upper caste Hindu groups are defining the standards of patriotism and whoever opposes their divisive ideology is destined to bear the brunt of the terror militia of Hindutva nationalists. The current government from its inception is clearly committed to two things—one , to go on a bullet train mode to implement the neo-liberal economic policies and two, the establishment of Hindutva nationalist ideology in our public sphere.

Those who oppose the loot of national resources in the name of development are branded as anti-nationals. Development is equated with patriotism. Destruction of livelihoods, natural resources and environmental habitats are portrayed as the patriotic cost of 'nation-building'. The forests of the country are opened up for mining and industry or land snatched away from farmers for development, and gigantic industries which suck in public money are touted as 'dream projects'. When voices of protest rise against this megalomania, then the 'nation building' forces attacks them with swords of developmental patriotism.

The second objective of this brigade is to establish a strong ideological and institutional hegemony in the public sphere for which they have to deconstruct, weaken and demolish the democratic institutions of our country. Ideological hegemony is an essential weapon for the Sangh Parivar to start the purge for a puritan Hindu nation. Their list of enemies includes democrats, socialists, communists, environmentalists, Dalits, people with different sexual orientations, and religious minorities. Lynching of Mohammed Aklaq, vandalizing churches or 'love-jehad'—none of it was the impulsive fury of a mob but a well thought out action plan executed perfectly. 

It's a desperate attempt to terrorise a section of people in the society who hold onto their right to dissent with pride. For any citizen in this country, dissent is not anti-national but a fight to live with basic human dignity. It's ironical that the thinking citizens of this country are judged on parameters of patriotism when the state has miserably failed to ensure even a basic living standard for the vast majority of its people. 

Priya Pillai is with Greenpeace; she was called 'anti-national' for raising environmental issues.

(The views expressed in the Freedom Series are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of 'Outlook' magazine or its journalists.)